Reef Points

Titus

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

This is a delicious Cabernet from Napa Valley. Showing black currants, blackberries, chocolates vanilla, cedar, light earth, light alcohol and espresso.

Tangy finish with nice tannins.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity.

Still young and needs a few years in the bottle to mature, but already very yummy. Still hot on the long finish.

15.1% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$53.
— 6 years ago

Daniel P., Ron and 13 others liked this

Château Clerc Milon

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

A great 19 year old Left Bank red, from a great vintage. Shows a pretty ruby color with a wide brick rim.

Pronounced nose of blue and black fruits, earth, wet leaves, forest floor, smoke, tobacco, vinaigrette, cocoa and peppercorn.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity and long legs.

Dry, spicy, earthy and gentle with still enough fruits.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cranberries.

Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up and shows some tannins (90 minutes).

Good by itself or with food. I would probably have preferred it 3 years ago.

Tasted it blind, and this time got it right 😊

12.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.
— 6 years ago

Ira, Ted and 28 others liked this
MaJ CappS

MaJ CappS Influencer Badge

One of my favorite wines when it was 20$ a bottle!

Chateau Ste. Michelle

Indian Wells Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

It's time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a great Cabernet from Washington State.

Dark ruby in color with a purplish rim.

Fruity nose with blackberries, blueberries, sweet cherries, figs, light oak, vanilla, spices, licorice, pencil lead, black pepper, dark chocolates, dark coffee, earth and leather.

Medium to full-bodied and smooth, with medium acidity and long long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blueberries, cherries, plums, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, herbs, tobacco, peppercorn, espresso, dark chocolates and pencil lead.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a great Cabernet from Columbia Valley. Nicely balanced with great complexity and mouthfeel. Smooth, elegant and very tasty. This 4 year old is peaking now.

This is not an expensive wine, but with proper short term aging, it drinks wonderfully. Worth giving it a try.

Good right out of the bottle and so much better after 2 hours in a decanter.

I paired it with cheeses, nuts, dried fruits and light appetizers.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$15.
— 7 years ago

Craig, James and 16 others liked this
"Odedi"

"Odedi" Influencer Badge

Thanks for the kind words @Shawn Thompson 😊😊
"Odedi"

"Odedi" Influencer Badge

Thanks for the kind words @Shawn Thompson 😊😊
"Odedi"

"Odedi" Influencer Badge

Much appreciated @Shawn Thompson 😊

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 1991

Fab 27yr Old Rioja @ £62 drinking like a Burgundy & perfect in a Zalto Burg glass

🏵 92 points

🍷 Garnet cherry w/ brown hue

👃 Leather & balsamic infused mulched spiced cherry w/ soft smoked oak, sherry, wet earth, cocoa, red berry, herbs & gooey date jam

👄 Med smooth, touch tart, red cherry & berry bathed in balsamic w/ a mocha touch

🎯 Med+ touch dry oaky driven red cherry & berry fruits w/ an earthy balsamic caramel figgy linger
— 7 years ago

Chris, Ted and 30 others liked this
Severn Goodwin

Severn Goodwin Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Great $ for that bottle.
Severn Goodwin

Severn Goodwin Influencer Badge Premium Badge

...Or great £ rather.

Bodegas Luis Cañas

Reserva Selección de Familia Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2010

First time with the 2010 vintage. Have had at least a case of 2009. Still having sinus troubles...

Some greenery, subtle licorice, nose.
Quite acidic. I bet this will be better than the 2009, needs more time to develop. Gonna buy and hold some.

92 points
— 8 years ago

P and David liked this

Quartz Reef

Bendigo Estate Pinot Noir

A nice Pinot. A bit young but a light floral nose to it. Good Pinot. From central Otago — 8 years ago

David Stein
with David
David Stein

David Stein

Sounds good. How's trip? Settled in @Bruce Leboff
Bruce Leboff

Bruce Leboff

Al good. Neat Eco tour today. Meeting the group and sailing in Auckland harbour tomorrow. Cheers. 🤓

Quartz Reef

Bendigo Central Otago Pinot Noir 2014

Maybe my first New Zealand Pinot. Very interesting — 9 years ago

Melissa O'Connor
with Melissa

Château Giscours

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2010

This is a very aromatic Left Bank Bordeaux, with a great fruity nose and great complexity.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, herbs, dark chocolates, vinaigrette, coffee, black pepper and spices.

Drinking nicely now and will be better in 5 years.

Long finish with firm tannins and tangy cranberries, with a soft and elegant mouthfeel.


This 9 year old has good aging potential of another 15 to 20 years.

Needs 3 hours to open up properly and show all that complexity.

I paired it with Brie cheese and Italian meats.

Robert Parker 93 points.

A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit verdot.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$120.
— 6 years ago

Shay, Brandon and 39 others liked this

Terroir al Límit

Dits del Terra Priorat Carignane 2011

As @P A just recommended... I'm on to the next wine from that last disaster...

2nd decanter working, I'll let one part of Spain rescue the other ..

Massive strawberry on the nose of this thing so far...

Acidity and tannins are medium plus, very strong structure for 13.5. Well worth the investment.

93 points
— 6 years ago

P, Mike and 1 other liked this

Château Pape Clément

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2016

Ken Z
9.6

Drank 1/18/19 at the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux event in Miami. All wines from the 2016 Vintage.

Tasting pour, no formal notes taken. Most of these wines are very tight, and will require 5-15 years to really come together. Many will likely improve a few points with time.

Beautiful, well structured dark fruit. Complex, but more open than several left bank wines at this stage, as is usual for Pessac-Leognan.
— 6 years ago

JT
with JT
Ken and Ron liked this

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2006

I 💗 Tig & this 06 gets better & better 😍 For £70 paid now £115 it’s a special treat to pop one of these beauties 😎

📍 Antinori Tignanello 2006

🏵 95-96 points

🍇 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon & 5% Cabernet Franc

🍷Deep ruby with brown garnet edge

👃 Soft oak infused stewed dark cherry & spiced blackcurrant w/ mocha, earthy wet leaves, herbs, black tea, minerals & smokey tones

👄 Med body of super silky dark fruit berries & cherry in creamy mocha w/ dry minerals

🎯 Long slight dry dark fruit finish with a coffee & chocolate mineral linger

Yummy Tignanello one of my (many) favourite go to wines 👍
— 7 years ago

Chris, Peter and 23 others liked this

Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona

Pianrosso Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese 2010

Finally... these hills have gold!!!
@Trattoria Il Leccio Sant'Angelo in Colle.
Small place, Big wine list.

Asked for recommendation.... blown away.

Age and alcohol showing in clear-gold-garnet rim. A beautiful cherry nose, with a hint of anise (but not licorice!). Stand by for more...

Rounded out beautifully, very soft silky tannins. Spectacular.

95+ points
— 8 years ago

M. Christopher, Shay and 7 others liked this

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1997

Charlie Beatty
10

Awesome 97 Insignia. The wine of the night and there were plenty others. Sharing this with all on our Monday night dinner group. I would say 100 points because it was. Guys like Rob Parker recently upgraded this to a 100pts. Big rich full and elegant stand out on this 20 yr old wine. Thanks David for giving me this Awesome Beauty. CB — 8 years ago

Walter O'GradyDennis Kanagielarry
with Walter, Dennis and 4 others
Dennis, jesus and 50 others liked this
David McDuff

David McDuff Influencer Badge

My pleasure, Charlie. Glad you enjoyed it.
Dennis Kanagie

Dennis Kanagie

Fantastic bottle! WOTN for sure.

Justin Vineyards & Winery

Isosceles Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

Sold this bottle for $170. my guest asked for a great CA Cab. Blend that needed to paired great with both Australian Wagyu and Japanese Wagyu. 🔱
77% Cabernet Sauvignon
12% Merlot
11% Cabernet Franc
91 points with Robert Parker, " It's a medium to full-bodied, supple, pure and balanced effort that offers lots of toasted spice, cedar, tobacco leaf and cassis-like aromas and flavors. Showing hints of chalky minerality and plenty of tannin on the finish, it will have 10-12+ years of longevity."
— 9 years ago

Rich, Mike and 7 others liked this

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

Very interesting nose. French barnyard smell, tough to describe. Capsicum - red fruits. Colour more earthy then 86. Leathery, showing some secondary characters. Long polished finish. Flavours carry on but I actually thought this was older then the 86. Strange? 94-95 points. — 10 years ago

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1989

Amazing wine - still fresh and light tannins. Fruit is elegant, balanced, black fruits. Heaven in a glass. 99 points. Super long finish. Coby- you should have bid more! — 12 years ago

Nine Points

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

This my wine. Smooth. Deep flavor. — 6 years ago

Belle Glos

Clark & Telephone Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017

Single vineyard pinot noir from Coastal California. Very deep purple for the grape. Viscous. Medium plus bodied. Perfume, floral nose notes but to me they are a bit overrun by oak. Belle Glos website says that this wine boasts bright acidity, but I would disagree. In the palate there is a ton of red fruit, almost candy, and very little acidity. Some residual sugar, and low to medium tannins. This is a good wine, but an odd Pinot. To me, it's almost like someone delivered Pinot Noir grapes to Ravenswood for processing as a Zinfandel.

PS it's giving me a headache.

DAY2 UPDATE: So I don't throw out wine, I'm giving it another whirl tonight. Done with dinner. If I wasn't on the Keto diet I'd slam this with a big 2 slices of cheesecake and I bet it would be perfect. The point is-- besides the fact that I miss cheesecake--this is a way over the top Pinot Noir, residual sugar and it's still at 14.6% abv!!! I'm adding the plus because I believe this was made with purpose, just not what I'm looking for.

89+ points
— 6 years ago

David, P and 8 others liked this
"Odedi"

"Odedi" Influencer Badge

Try it as a 4 year old

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2012

When Mrs Es been away in the 🇺🇸 all week & she lands .. what does she want 🤣 I think the 2012 is the best priced, finessed & yet w/ depth Sass going @ £107 (now £145+) from 09-15 vintages although 09 & 15 are my favourites 👍

📍 Sassicaia 2012

🏵 95 points

🍇 85% Cabernet Sauvignon & 15% Cabernet Franc

🍷 Dark opaque ruby

👃 Minty, herby, sweet cedar & soft smoked oak through dark cherries, raspberry jam, peppery spiced light blackcurrant & wild blackberry w/ stoney minerals, clove, lavender, liquorice & leather 😍

👄 Med body of silky elegant ripe spiced blackcurrant w/ cracked rock mineral & liquorice tones

🎯 Med+ black fruit blackcurrant driven wallop w/ mocha & raspberry liquorice slap
— 7 years ago

Chris, Severn and 31 others liked this

Lone Madrone

Points West Red Syrah Blend 2012

S L
9.2

Nice with grilled honey Aleppo chicken (more so then the Tuscan herbed), and a Jose Llopis cigar. Very pleasing Rhone blend from Paso Robles. — 7 years ago

Lobster Reef Wines

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2017

Bowen Home - Soft tones, guava and pineapple. — 7 years ago

Quartz Reef

Méthode Traditionelle Central Otago Brut White Blend

Good classic Champagne taste. Pear and a bit of toast. Lots of fine bubbles. A bit foamy for my taste but well made and re freshingly crisp. — 8 years ago

Isaac liked this

Hundred Acre Vineyard

Ark Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

This is one of my all time favorite bottles. If you know you know. Jayson you crushed it!! This wine is 100 points and more. Try to drink it at some great occasion or on a Tuesday night. — 8 years ago

Shafer Vineyards

Hillside Select Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2001

2001 in Mag...was RP 100 but really have no idea what that means now. Robust fruit lead profile but less pronounced than other RP100 Napa's. Guess good price for the points but I do generally like 2001 vintage. — 9 years ago

Harlan Estate

Napa Valley Proprietary Red Blend 1994

Wow! I was worried because some 95-97 Cults all have gotten flabby! But this gem still had great acid balance and melted tannins with complex core of spices, leather, fruit compote and nuts. Was 100 points WS/WA and the best Harlan I've tasted to date! I think it might still have a quite a few years left to improve which I generally I would have suspected. Drank at Benu with Yun the Somm and friends! — 9 years ago

Mills Reef

Elspeth Syrah 2005

Boom! That's all. — 10 years ago

Brownie Points Vineyards

California Red Blend 2011

Very nice table and casual wine — 11 years ago